Today’s Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners Meeting Agenda
Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners
January 23, 2024 – 3:00 p.m.
Room 301, Civic Center Complex
1. Call to Order
2. Attendance
A. Youth Resources’ Teen Advisory Council in Attendance
1. Ethan Stofleth
2. George Xiao
3. Jackson Lin
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Action Items
A. Veterans Memorial Coliseum
1. Award Bid for “Infrastructure Improvementsâ€
2. Articles of Incorporation of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Coliseum
Preservation Foundation, Inc.
B. Engineer
1. Permission to Open Bids: VC24-01-01: Replacement of Vanderburgh County
Bridge #1911 on St. Joseph Road
2. Sidewalk Waiver Request: The Shoppes at New Harmony – 12100 SR 57
3. Time Extension Request – “Young Road Lift Station and Sewer Extension”
4. Amended Agreement for the Removal of a Railroad Crossing on St. Joseph
Avenue
5. Community Crossings Matching Grant Application Financial Commitment Letter
C. Sheriff
1. 2023 Federal Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification
D. Prosecutor
1. Indiana Family & Social Services Administration Division of Aging (FSSA) Contract
#79833 for Adult Protective Services
E. Local Elected Officials’ Agreement
F. Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): County Highway, Burdette, Old National Events
Plaza, Superintendent of County Buildings, Weights & Measures – Effective January 1,
2024-December 31, 2026
G. Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): Treasurer’s Office – Effective January 1, 2024 –
December 31, 2026
H. Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): Coroner’s Office – Effective January 1, 2024 –
December 31, 2026
I. Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): Veteran’s Services – Effective January 1, 2024 –
December 31, 2026
5. Department Head Reports
6. New Business
A. Area Plan Commission Letter
7. Old BusinessDrainage Board Immediately Following
8. Consent Items
A. Approval of December 13th Board of Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes –
Highland-Pigeon Watershed Commission
B. Approval of January 9th Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes
C. Approval of January 12th Board of Commissioners Executive Session Summary Minutes
D. Employment Changes
E. Auditor
1. Claims Voucher Reports
i. January 8, 2024 – January 12, 2024
ii. January 15, 2024 – January 19, 2024
F. Engineer
1. Report and Claims
G. Clerk
1. December 2023 Monthly Report
H. Treasurer
1. November 2023 Monthly Report
I. Old National Events Plaza Waiver Request
1. City of Evansville on behalf of Evansville-Vanderburgh Commission on
Homelessness: Homeless Connect of Southwest Indiana
J. Veterans Council
1. Old Courthouse Installation Request
K. Appropriation Request
1. Commissioners
L. The Arc of Evansville
1. December 2023 Dashboard
M. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Consent for Access to Property
1. 201 NW Fourth St
2. 300 Court St
3. 621 E Sycamore St
9. Public Comment
10. Adjournment
Attorney General Todd Rokita reminds Hoosiers to be alert during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Attorney General Todd Rokita is asking Hoosiers to stay alert for signs of human trafficking in communities across Indiana and to report any suspicious activities to authorities. Â
“Human trafficking may seem like an issue that doesn’t affect your specific community, but it’s sometimes brushed under the rug because victims are either scared to admit the truth or are groomed at a young age,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Online recruitment has played a major role in this crime. Our kids are extremely vulnerable to sex trafficking and exploitation due to their excessive online presence. I encourage all parents to monitor their child’s online interactions to keep them safe.â€Â
Human trafficking is a billion-dollar criminal enterprise. It occurs anytime someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to make another individual provide labor, services, or commercial sex acts.
 People in certain job roles — such as medical professionals, restaurant workers, teachers, and truck drivers — are particularly likely to encounter trafficking victims.Â
With January being National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, it is a fitting time to remind Hoosiers to stay watchful and look out for signs of a potential trafficking victim.Â
“Human trafficking is a rapidly growing crime in Indiana and across our country,†Attorney General Rokita said. “Increasing awareness and education on the topic is the first step in helping these victims. Hoosiers value justice, and these callous enslavers should pay for their despicable crimes.â€Â Â
According to the U.S. State Department, signs of human trafficking include observations that someone:Â
- lives with their employer.Â
- lives with multiple people in a cramped space.Â
- otherwise experiences poor living conditions.Â
- is prohibited from speaking alone to strangers.Â
- gives answers that appear to be scripted and rehearsed.Â
- has an employer holding their identity documents.Â
- shows signs of physical abuse.Â
- is submissive or fearful.Â
- is unpaid or paid very little.Â
- is under 18 and working in the commercial sex industry.Â
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If you have suspicions that someone is being trafficked, you should immediately call local law enforcement. You may also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
The Office of the Attorney General operates the Address Confidentiality Program, which helps protect victims of certain crimes — including those who have been trafficked — by concealing their residential address from the public and thereby their victimizers.
Vanderburgh County Commissioners to Hold 2024 Roads Hearing
The Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County will conduct its annual Vanderburgh County Roads Hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. This event will be held as part of the Board of County Commissioners meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Civic Center Complex Room 301, located at 1 N.W.Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Evansville, Indiana.
During the public forum, information regarding road projects scheduled for 2024 will be shared, offering citizens insight into the upcoming developments. Furthermore, residents are encouraged to actively participate by identifying specific county roads they believe should be included in the 2024 paving list.
Residents who wish to address the Board with specific road concerns or suggestions are kindly asked to send an email to the Commissioners’ Office no later than February 23, 2024, at commissioners@vanderburghgov.org. This allows time for the issues to be investigated before the meeting. Please include specific location information, a clear description of the concern or suggestion, relevant reference pictures (if available), and your contact information.
For your convenience, a comprehensive list of all Vanderburgh County-maintained roads can be accessed by clicking here.
UE Clay Club Donates Thousands to Community Food Bank
EVANSVILLE, IND. (01/22/2024) The Clay Club held its 21st annual Chili Bowl Sale on the University of Evansville campus on October 31, 2023. There were over 500 handmade ceramic bowls for sale, with the majority being sold for $10 and others ranging from $15 to $100. In previous years, the sale of the bowls lasted from 15 to 30 minutes. In 2023, the bowls sold out in a record time of six minutes and 30 seconds. People waited in lines longer for chili than they waited to buy the bowls.
The Chili Bowl Sale brings one of the largest crowds to campus, and the crowd for 2023 was twice as large as the previous year. This event draws a large turnout from not only the campus community but also the public.
“We have families that drive over two hours to be here,” said Todd Matteson, Chair of the Department of Art. “The sale is anticipated every year and has become a tradition for many.”
This year, the UE Clay Club chose the Community Food Bank Inc. of Dubois County as its beneficiary. The club has a member that personally benefitted from this charity in the past and wanted to pay it forward. The UE Clay Club decided to donate all profits this year to the Community Food Bank.
Since 2016, when the UE Clay Club became a Student Government Association-sponsored group, they have been operating the Chili Bowl Sale as a philanthropic event and fundraiser, donating close to $30,000 to fight hunger. Each year the UE Clay Club members must research and decide which organization they want to support.
Matteson has two requirements for the students as they choose where to donate: first, the organization needs to be mostly funded by private donors; and two, they must spread the gifts to organizations inside and outside of Vanderburgh County. This is done on a rotating basis.
“We have a lot of students that also reside in the surrounding counties, and those counties need our support too,” said Matteson. “This furthers UE’s commitment to fighting hunger within the greater community.”
Gov. Holcomb to lead economic development trip to Canada
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INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Eric J. Holcomb will lead his second economic development trip to Canada next week, visiting one of Indiana’s largest economic partners. The governor and a delegation from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) will travel to Ontario on Monday, Jan. 22, to foster ties with government, business and industry leaders in key sectors, including energy, advanced manufacturing and life sciences. “Indiana’s growing economy continues to gain recognition on both the national and global stage,†said Gov. Holcomb. “As industries adapt, evolve and innovate their way into the future, Indiana is proving to be a valued strategic partner in overcoming any challenge that may develop along the way. Our vision and mission are aligned as we partner and enthusiastically power our way forward together. Indiana’s proud to reinforce our important partnerships with regions like Ontario as we work together to create an even higher quality of life and place for all those who call our regions home.†In Ontario, Gov. Holcomb will meet with provincial officials, including Premier Doug Ford, to cultivate ties and partnership opportunities between Indiana and Ontario across government, industry and the energy transition. Ontario and Indiana share strong trade and investment partnerships—more than 78 Canada-owned corporations and small businesses operate in Indiana and 41% of those are based out of Ontario. There are 28 Indiana businesses with operations in Ontario. Additionally, Gov. Holcomb and the IEDC delegation will visit the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario, which is responsible for generating more than 20% of Ontario’s electricity needs – enough to power 2 million homes. The delegation will meet with officials leading Ontario’s energy transition and discuss opportunities to power energy generation and storage innovation. On Tuesday, the governor will pitch Indiana as a competitive business investment destination and leading partner for industry innovations to US, Canadian and global business and industry leaders at a roundtable hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada and at a reception hosted by U.S. Consul General Baxter Hunt before returning to Indiana on Wednesday. This marks Gov. Holcomb’s 17th international economic development trip as governor and his second official trip to Canada. Indiana is home to more than 1,050 foreign-owned business establishments, representing more than 40 countries and territories – including approximately 78 from Canada. In 2023, 37 foreign-owned businesses committed to locating or growing in Indiana, together planning to invest more than $20.6 billion and create more than 8,509 new Hoosier jobs. -30-
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